The Strangest Snack Foods From Around the World

The desire to snack is a basic human impulse, but not all cultures snack alike. In some countries, popular snacks might seem odd to Americans, even though we are the ones sprawled out on couches stuffing our faces with fake powdered cheese and pretzels that purport to taste like pepperoni pizza.

In order to achieve peak snacking prowess, you must broaden your cultural horizons and realize that beyond the shelves of Pringles and Corn Nuts, there’s a whole world of salty, sweet, and crunchy treats out there to explore. From fermented shark meat to Marmite-flavored potato chips, we’ve got some snack-time game-changers that may just have you ditching your go-to Doritos in time for Super Bowl.

Check out some of the world’s most weird and wonderful snacks.

Kanikko

Country of origin: Japan
Buy it here:Sunrise Mart
If you were the kid who enjoyed biting the heads off gummy bears and Goldfish crackers, you’ll love this mini crab snack. Yes, they’re actual tiny crabs that you can eat whole—grab a beer to pair with the sweet and salty crunch of the little critters.

Haggis and Black Pepper Chips

Country of origin: Scotland
Buy it here:Amazon
“I love haggis so much! I wish more every day foods tasted like haggis,” said someone, somewhere...maybe. If that person is you, you’ll definitely want to give these chips a try. Even for less adventurous eaters, this crispy snack is a great way to test the waters of haggis flavor without getting too close to all the sheep innards that go into the real thing in Scotland.

Garlic Chocolate

Country of origin: Japan
Buy it here:Takko Machi Garlic And Beef Festival
Many thanks to Japan’s garlic-producing Aomori region for providing us with the ultimate mixed-signal-sending Valentine’s Day snack: garlic chocolate. It’s the perfect combination of decadent, romantic dessert and please-don’t-get-any-closer-to-me-with-that-breath garlic potency.

Dried Wild Fish

Country of origin: Russia
Buy it here:Dalostrova.ru
This Russian snack is pretty no-nonsense—you know exactly what you’re getting from the name, and the only ingredients in it are fish and salt. No wonder these little guys on the package look so stoked to be eating crunchy little whole fish.

Salsagheti

Country of origin: Mexico
Buy it here:Amazon
Spaghetti made out of salsa? Not quite, but this snack is equally unusual: spicy candy vines coated with the power-packed flavor of a tamarind sauce. When your regular-ol' sour gummies aren't cutting it anymore, this is the perfect candy upgrade.

Hákarl

Country of origin: Iceland
Buy it here:Nammi.is
This Icelandic snack probably isn’t the kind of thing you’d usually pop into your mouth while you’re watching TV—or maybe it is if you’re a total snacking badass. Hákarl is essentially cured and fermented shark meat that is notorious for it’s not-for-the-faint-of-heart pungency.

Lamb And Mint Chips

Country of Origin: New Zealand
Buy It Here:Countdown.co
Here’s a snack that’s aiming to bring together the best of both worlds. When you crave the succulent flavor of a juicy lamb chop with mint jelly, but you also want something salty and processed that comes out of a bag (because you're broke), these lamb-and-mint potato chips have got your back.

Octopus-Flavored Chips

Country of origin: South Korea
Buy it here:Amazon
Crackers shaped like little goldfish? Seems familiar, until you realize these little guys taste like octopus, not cheese. If you're an adventurous eater, Korean Tako Chips might be your new go-to snack.

Salmiakki

Countries of origin: Finland
Buy it here:Amazon
This Scandanavian snack takes the beloved salty-sweet combo and cranks it up to 11. Salmiakki candy is a super salty licorice that makes Haribo look like child's play.

Falafel Bissli

Country of origin: Israel
Buy it here:Amazon
We all know your favorite snack destination is the falafel cart down the block, but what about when you want all that falafel-y flavor satisfaction in a convenient package? Fear not, the snack gods are on your side in Israel, where you can get this this crunchy, chickpea-flavored snack to satisfy your cravings.

Marmite Potato Chips

Country of origin: England
Buy it here:A Taste of Britain
The yeasty tang of Marmite is one of the most polarizing flavors out there, but if you’re a fan then you probably want to combine it with whatever foods you can get your hands on. These potato chips do that for you, pairing Marmite with a classic potato chip and graciously leaving out the sticky, brown yeast paste factor.

Latest News

Now Trending

FIRST WE FEAST participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means FIRST WE FEAST gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.